Michigan expanding access to safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine starting March 8
All Michiganders over age 50 eligible March 22
Midland Daily News
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Madison Messner, left, looks over at the injection site where her mother, Erin Messner, who works at Siebert Elementary, center, received the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from Midland County Community Health Nurse Becky Carlson, right, during a vaccination clinic for local teachers and other school staff Friday, Jan. 29, 2021 at the Midland County Educational Service Agency building. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)(Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)Show MoreShow Less
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Local teachers and other school staff receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during a vaccination clinic Friday, Jan. 29, 2021 at the Midland County Educational Service Agency building. (Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)(Katy Kildee/kkildee@mdn.net)Show MoreShow Less
State Emergency Operations Center
LANSING Several initiatives to improve access to the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine and ensure equity when it comes to protection from the virus have been announced by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) during the past couple weeks. MDHHS posted race data on the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard to help track the effects of those efforts and to provide additional information about vaccinations in Michigan.
“Ensuring those who are most vulnerable are protected by the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is a high priority for Michigan,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “Black and Brown communities have been disproportionately affected by the virus, and improving the race and ethnicity data being collected for vaccinations is critical for ensuring the equitable administration of the vaccine. We will use this data to continue to drive our strategy towards making sure everyone
cbleck@miningjournal.net
MARQUETTE Northern Michigan University’s Health Center could be notified any day of its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine doses.
From the point of delivery about 24 hours later, the Vielmetti Health Center must safely store and administer the initial supply within seven days, NMU announced.
Staff members and representatives of the university’s COVID-19 response team met last week to coordinate efforts to communicate availability, prioritize and schedule eligible groups, and plot the logistics of holding vaccine clinics in the Northern Center.
NMU indicated it will operate the vaccine clinics similar to the Passport to Campus mass COVID-19 testing events held at the beginning of both semesters this academic year. Emails will be sent to eligible individuals based on priority criteria and availability.
rspitza@miningjournal.net
LANSING The Protect Michigan Commission, comprised of bipartisan leaders from across the state, including Marquette City Commissioner Evan Bonsall and Upper Peninsula Health Plan’s Melissa A. Holmquist, held its first meeting on Friday.
The commission, which serves as an advisory group to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, was established to focus on equitable distribution of a safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine to help save lives and strengthen the economy.
“The work of the bipartisan Protect Michigan Commission will help Michigan reach its goal of 50,000 shots in arms per day and help ensure all Michiganders have a plan to get their vaccine once it is their turn,” Whitmer said in a news release. “The safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is our way forward out of this pandemic and will allow us to return to a sense of normalcy and a strong Michigan economy.”